Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether participating local authorities will receive additional funding to deliver support arising from the pilot scheme for children with a parent in prison.

The government has a manifesto commitment to recognise and support children affected by parental imprisonment, as part of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and enable all children to achieve and thrive. Pilots to progress this work were announced on 8 July, detailing a new scheme launching this summer to join up information held across public services to improve how children affected by parental imprisonment can be recognised and offered appropriate support at an earlier stage. We will share more information about which areas are participating and the funding arrangements for the pilots in due course.

Local areas will design their own systems to meet local needs and specific circumstances. Information shared to enable the recognition of children affected by parental imprisonment will be limited and proportionate, with appropriate legal and data-sharing arrangements in place. A project privacy notice will be issued to all prison governors to share with the general prison population, this will explain what data is being shared, to which organisations, and for what purpose.